Tori Amos is renowned for writing songs about women that have been used and abused by men. “Blood Roses” is of the same vein, except it alludes to the vampiric quality of a man who would suck the life out of you.

The vampire metaphor is furthered by Amos making mention of what is easily the literary vampire capital of the world–New Orleans:

The Belle of New Orleans tried to show me/Once how to tango/Wrapped around you feet/Wrapped around like good little roses